SHEEP. 



and stony, the better. Although they 

 will thrive best upon jjood herbage, 

 such as other farm stock like, tlu'y 

 will live where other animals will 

 starve. They bite close. An acre of 

 good pasture will summer six sheep. 



" How many should bo kept togeth- 

 er 1 what shelter do they require, and 

 what food, in winter ^ The number 

 in small enclosures, or in a yard, or 

 in a shed, should not exceed 100 : 

 when in large pastures, it may ex- 

 ceed 100 ; sheds are only neces- 

 sary to protect them from storms, 

 and to keep them dry in winter. 

 They want air and exercise. Sheep 

 are kept upon hay and straw in win- 

 ter ; some add oats, or corn, or roots, 

 either of which is serviceable in 

 keeping them in good plight. One 

 quart of grain may be given to a doz- 

 en sheep per day, beginning to feed 

 with a less quantity. In Tennessee 

 sheep will get much from the pas- 

 tures in winter, where they should be 

 permitted to range in dry weather. 



" How is wool managed for expor- 

 tation, the time of shearing, &.C.1 

 The wool is carefully rolled up, each 

 fleece separate, and tied, and sent to 

 market in bales like those used for 

 cotton. Shearing is generally per- 

 formed here in June, after the cold 

 rains have subsided. It is consider- 

 ed bad policy to shear lambs the first 

 season, as they want their fleece to 

 protect them during our cold winters, 

 and it is found that nothing is gained 

 by early shearing. It is advisable 

 to tag ewes in spring and autumn. 

 Sheep enrich the land on which they 

 run. A good shepherd and his dog 

 can take care of lOOO to 1500 sheep, 

 or more, and feed them in winter." 



" This will be the proper place to 

 speak of the shearing- of the sheep, or 

 the separation of the fleece from the 

 animal. The time for this operation 

 will vary much with the state of the 

 animal, and of the season. After a 

 cold winter, and the animal having 

 been neglected, the sheep will be 

 ready at an early period, for the old 

 coat will be loosened and easily re- 

 moved. The operation should never 

 be commenced until the old wool has 

 704 



separated from the skin, and a new 



coat of wool is sprouting up. The 

 coldness or warmth of the spring will 

 also make a great difference. The 

 usual time for shearing is about the 

 middle of May, and the sheep-master 

 will in a moment perceive when the 

 fitting time is come. It is a bad prac- 

 tice to delay the shearing, for the old 

 fleece will probably have separated, 

 and the fly will have longer time to 

 do mischief, and the growth of the 

 new fleece will have been stinted, or 

 a portion of it will be cut away by 

 the shears. 



" Cu stom has very properly required 

 that the old fleece shall be cleansed 

 before its removal, by washing the 

 animal in some running stream. Two 

 or three days are then allowed for 

 the drying of the wool previous to its 

 being shorn, the sheep being turned 

 into a clean rick-yard, or field, or dry 

 pasture, and remaining there until 

 the fleece is dried, and that the new 

 yolk, which is rapidly secreted, may 

 penetrate through it, giving it a little 

 additional weight and a peculiar soft- 

 ness. As soon as the sheep is shorn, 

 the mark of the owner is placed upon 

 it, consisting of lamp-black and tal- 

 low, with a small portion of tar, melt- 

 ed together. This will not be wash- 

 ed away by any rain, but may be re- 

 moved by the application of soap and 

 water. 



" On the score of humanity, one 

 custom must be decidedly protested 

 against — the shearing of a flock of 

 sheep before they are driven to the 

 market in an early part of the spring. 

 The farmer thinks that he shall get 

 nearly or quite the same price for the 

 sheep whether the wool is off or on. 

 But does he find this to be the case 1 

 When the poor animals are shivering 

 under the influence of the cold air, do 

 they look so attractive! Do they 

 handle well 1 Is there not an ap- 

 pearance of disease about themi 

 Does not the rheum that hangs about 

 the nostrils indicate the actual com- 

 mencement of disease] 



" Few rules can be laid down with 

 regard to the rearing and feeding of 

 sheep that will admit of anything like 



